Illinois's 2nd House of Representatives district

For the congressional district, see Illinois's 2nd congressional district.

Illinois's 2nd House of Representatives district is a Representative district within the Illinois House of Representatives located in Cook County, Illinois. It has been represented by Democrat Elizabeth Hernandez since January 11, 2023. The district was previously represented by Democrat Theresa Mah from 2017 to 2023.

Illinois's 2nd State House of Representatives district
Representative	Elizabeth Hernandez D–Cicero since 2023
Demographics	17.2% White 3.2% Black 50.7% Hispanic 26.8% Asian 0.1% Native American 0.0% Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 0.3% Other
Population (2020)	107,486
Created	1983–present 1849–1873, 1957–1973
Notes	[1]

The district covers parts of Berwyn, Brookfield, Chicago, Cicero, Lyons, McCook, Riverside, Stickney, and Summit, and of Chicago's neighborhoods, it covers part of Garfield Ridge.^[1][2]

Representative district history

This section is an excerpt from Illinois's 1st House of Representatives district § Representative district history.[edit]

Prior to the ratification of the 1848 Illinois Constitution, counties (or two or more counties) were designated a certain number of Senators and Representatives. With the ratification of the 1848 Illinois Constitution, Legislative and Representative districts were numbered and called by name. Each district was still assigned a certain number of Senators and Representatives. After the passage of the 1872 Apportionment, only Legislative districts were drawn with Representatives elected cumulatively. The 1954 amendment to the 1870 Illinois Constitution established Representative districts as separate from Legislative districts (with representatives still elected cumulatively). The boundaries of Representative and Legislative districts would differ.^[3] After the United States Supreme Court ruled in Reynolds v. Sims (1964) that "both houses of state legislatures must be apportioned according to districts of equal population," new districts were redrawn for the Illinois Senate and Illinois House of Representatives. While the Legislative districts were redrawn, the Governor and General Assembly failed to agree on Representative district boundaries. Under the 1954 amendment, "a 10-man bipartisan commission appointed by the governor from recommendations made by both parties" were directed to redraw boundaries but failed to do so in 1963. Because of this failure, and with no district boundaries redrawn, all Representative districts were temporarily merged into one at-large district with 177 representatives (the total number of representatives at the time). The 1964 Illinois House election had several candidates running for all 177 seats throughout the state.^[4] In 1965, the Representative districts were redrawn by the Illinois Legislative Reapportionment Commission and elections held in 1966 were done with separate districts.^[5] With the 1971 Apportionment (and adoption of the 1970 Illinois Constitution), Representative districts were abolished and representatives were once again elected cumulatively per Legislative district.^[6] After the passage of the Cutback Amendment in 1980, the number of Representatives was reduced from 177 to 118 with Representative districts re-established and now electing a single representative.

List of representatives

1849 – 1873

Representative^[7]	Party	Years^[a]	General Assembly (GA)	Electoral History	Counties Represented
District established with 1848 Illinois Constitution
Wesley Sloan	Independent^[8]	January 1, 1849 – January 3, 1853	16th 17th 18th	Elected in 1848 Re-elected in 1850 Re-elected in 1852 Was not re-elected in 1854	Hardin Massac Pope
	Democratic^[9]	January 3, 1853 – January 1, 1855
G. M. Gray	Whig^[10]	January 1, 1855 – January 5, 1857	19th	Elected in 1854 Was not re-elected in 1856
Wesley Sloan	Democratic^[11]	January 5, 1857 – January 3, 1859	20th	Elected back in 1856 Was not re-elected in 1858
William H. Green		January 3, 1859 – January 5, 1863	21st 22nd	Elected in 1858 Re-elected in 1860 Was not re-elected in 1862
Thomas B. Hicks	Unknown	January 5, 1863 – January 2, 1865	23rd	Elected in 1862 Was not re-elected in 1864	Johnson Massac Pope
William A. Looney	National Union^[12]	January 2, 1865 – January 7, 1867	24th	Elected in 1864 Was not re-elected in 1866
Phil. G. Clemens	Unknown	January 7, 1867 – January 4, 1869	25th	Elected in 1866 Was not re-elected in 1868
Jonathan C. Willis	Republican^[13]^[14]	January 4, 1869 – January 4, 1871	26th	Elected in 1868 Was not re-elected in 1870
William R. Brown		January 4, 1871 – January 8, 1873	27th	Elected in 1870 Was not re-elected in 1872	Massac Pulaski
District abolished with 1872 Reapportionment as 3 Representatives were now elected cumulatively from Legislative districts.

1957 – 1973

Representative^[7]	Party	Party Control	Years^[a]^[b]	General Assembly (GA)	Electoral History	Counties Represented
2nd Representative district established in 1957.
Terrel E. Clarke	Republican	2 Republicans 1 Democrat	January 9, 1957 – January 6, 1965	70th 71st 72nd 73rd	Elected in 1956 Re-elected in 1958 Re-elected in 1960 Re-elected in 1962 Re-elected to At-large district	Cook County
Harold A. Hoover			January 9, 1957 – March 8, 1962	70th 71st 72nd	Elected in 1956 Re-elected in 1958 Re-elected in 1960 Passed away on March 8, 1962^[15]
Frank X. Downey	Democratic		January 9, 1957 – January 6, 1965	70th 71st 72nd 73rd	Elected in 1956 Re-elected in 1958 Re-elected in 1960 Re-elected in 1962 Re-elected to At-large district
1 Vacancy		1 Republican 1 Democrat	March 8, 1962 – ???	72nd
Don A. Moore	Republican	2 Republicans 1 Democrat	January 9, 1963 – January 6, 1965	73rd	Elected in 1962 Re-elected to At-large district
The district was temporarily abolished from 1965 to 1967 due to the Redistricting Commission in 1963 failing to reach an agreement. An at-large election was held electing 177 Representatives from across the state.
Richard A. Walsh	Republican	2 Republicans 1 Democrat	January 4, 1967 – January 10, 1973	75th 76th 77th	Elected in 1966 Re-elected in 1968 Re-elected in 1970 Re-districted to the 5th district	Cook County
Edward Bluthardt			January 4, 1967 – January 10, 1973		Elected in 1966 Re-elected in 1968 Re-elected in 1970 Re-districted to the 5th Legislative district and won re-election in 1972
James Kirie	Democratic		January 4, 1967 – January 13, 1971	75th 76th	Re-districted from At-large district and re-elected in 1966 Re-elected in 1968 Retired and served as commissioner for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Raymond J. Welsh, Jr.			January 13, 1971 – January 10, 1973	77th	Elected in 1970 Ran for Illinois Senate 21st district in 1972 and won
District abolished with 1971 Reapportionment as Representatives were once again elected from Legislative districts.

1983 – present

Representative^[7]	Party	Years^[b]	General Assembly (GA)	Electoral History	Counties Represented
Representatives were now elected one per district with the passage of the Cutback Amendment
William Laurino	Democratic	January 12, 1983 – January 13, 1993	83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th	Redistricted from 15th district and won re-election in 1982 Re-elected in 1984 Re-elected in 1986 Re-elected in 1988 Re-elected in 1990 Redistricted to 15th district and won re-election in 1992.	Cook
Benjamin A. "Ben" Martinez		January 13, 1993 – ???	88th 89th	Redistricted from 20th district and won re-election in 1992 Re-elected in 1994 Out of office before 1996 election
Edward Acevedo		January 8, 1997 – January 10, 2017	90th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th 95th 96th 97th 98th 99th	Elected in 1996 Re-elected in 1998 Re-elected in 2000 Re-elected in 2002 Re-elected in 2004 Re-elected in 2006 Re-elected in 2008 Re-elected in 2010 Re-elected in 2012 Re-elected in 2014 Retired
Theresa Mah		January 10, 2017 – January 11, 2023	100th 101st 102nd	Elected in 2016 Re-elected in 2018 Re-elected in 2020 Re-districted to the 24th district and won re-election in 2022.
Elizabeth Hernandez		January 11, 2023 – present	103rd	Redistricted from the 24th district and elected in 2022

Historic district boundaries

Years	County	Municipalities/Townships	Notes
2023 – present	Cook	Berwyn, Brookfield, Chicago (Garfield Ridge), Cicero, Lyons, McCook, Riverside, Stickney, Summit	^[1]^[2]
2013 – 2023		Chicago (Armour Square, Bridgeport, Brighton Park, Lower West Side, McKinley Park, Near South Side, Near West Side, and New City)	^[16]^[2]
2003 – 2013		Chicago	^[17]
1993 – 2003		Chicago	^[18]
1983 – 1993		Chicago	^[19]
1967 – 1973		Leyden Township, Norwood Park Township, parts of Oak Park Township, River Forest Township	^[20]
1957 – 1965		Bremen Township, Lemont Township, Lyons Township, Orland Township, Palos Township, parts of Stickney Township, Worth Township	^[21]
1871 – 1873	Massac Pulaski	Ash Ridge, Brooklyn, Burkeville, Fort Massac, Grand Chain (New Grand Chain), Hickory Grove, Hillerman, Junction, Metropolis, New Columbia, Mound City, North Caledonia, Pellonia, Pulaski, Ullin, Unionville, Villa Ridge, Wetaug	^[22]^[23]
1863 – 1871	Johnson Massac Pope	Bay City, Big Bay, Brooklin, Georges Creek, Golconda, Hamletsburg, Hillerman, Metropolis, Morgantown, New Liberty, Oakstown, Reynoldsburg, Rock Quarry, Stonefort, Vienna, Webster	^[22]^[24]^[25]^[26]^[27]
1849 – 1863	Hardin Massac Pope	Belgrade, Bay City, Bay (Big Bay), Cave-In-Rock, Elizabethtown, Georges Creek, Golconda, Hillerman, Marthas, Massac, McCormick Settlement (McCormick), Metropolis, New Liberty, Oakton, Pond Slough, Rock Quarry, Rosiclare, Twitchell's Mill,	^[22]^[28]^[29]^[30]^[31]^[32]^[24]

Electoral history

2030 — 2022

2022 Illinois House of Representatives election^[33]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez	16,412	100.0
Total votes			16,412	100.0

2020 – 2012

2020 Illinois House of Representatives election^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Theresa Mah (incumbent)	25,771	100.0	N/A
Total votes			25,771	100.0

2018 Illinois House of Representatives election^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Theresa Mah (incumbent)	20,455	100.0	N/A
Total votes			20,455	100.0

2016 Illinois House of Representatives election^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Theresa Mah	23,813	100.0	N/A
Total votes			23,813	100.0

2014 Illinois House of Representatives election^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Edward J. Acevedo (incumbent)	12,081	100.0	+0.05%
Total votes			12,081	100.0

2012 Illinois House of Representatives election^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Edward J. Acevedo (incumbent)	18,559	99.95	-0.05%
	Write-in		10	0.05	N/A
Total votes			18,569	100.0

2010 – 2002

2010 Illinois House of Representatives election^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Edward J. Acevedo (incumbent)	10,711	100.0	+17.12%
Total votes			10,711	100.0

2008 Illinois House of Representatives election^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Edward J. Acevedo (incumbent)	16,327	82.88	-17.12%
	Green	Ante "Tony" Marijan	3372	17.12	N/A
Total votes			19,699	100.0

2006 Illinois House of Representatives election^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Edward J. Acevedo (incumbent)	12,001	100.0	N/A
Total votes			12,001	100.0

2004 Illinois House of Representatives election^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Edward J. Acevedo (incumbent)	14,462	100.0	+16.81%
Total votes			14,462	100.0

2002 Illinois House of Representatives election^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Edward J. Acevedo (incumbent)	11,052	83.19	-16.81%
	Republican	George J. Preski	2234	16.81	N/A
Total votes			13,286	100.0

2000 – 1992

2000 Illinois House of Representatives election^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Edward J. Acevedo (incumbent)	11,489	100.0	N/A
Total votes			11,489	100.0

1998 Illinois House of Representatives election^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Edward J. Acevedo (incumbent)	7,019	100.0	+16.42%
Total votes			7,019	100.0

1996 Illinois House of Representatives election^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Edward Acevedo	10,274	83.58	+8.61%
	Republican	Nancy Mercado	2017	16.41	-8.61%
Total votes			12,291	100.0

1994 Illinois House of Representatives election^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Benjamin A. "Ben" Martinez (incumbent)	5,950	74.97	-1.70%
	Republican	George J. Preski	1986	25.02	+1.70%
Total votes			7,936	100.0

1992 Illinois House of Representatives election^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Benjamin A. "Ben" Martinez (incumbent)	10,262	76.67	-23.33%
	Republican	George J. Preski	3122	23.32	N/A
Total votes			13,384	100.0

1990 – 1982

1990 Illinois House of Representatives election^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	William J. Laurino (incumbent)	17,620	100.0	+32.85%
Total votes			17,620	100.0

1988 Illinois House of Representatives election^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	William J. Laurino (incumbent)	22,661	67.15	-5.17%
	Republican	Anthony J. Barango, Jr.	11,083	32.84	+5.17%
Total votes			33,744	100.0

1986 Illinois House of Representatives election^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	William J. Laurino (incumbent)	19,249	72.32	+9.69%
	Republican	Fawn V. Hurst	7,365	27.67	-9.70%
Total votes			26,614	100.0

1984 Illinois House of Representatives election^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	William J. Laurino (incumbent)	22,824	62.63	-37.36%
	Republican	Kenneth R. Hurst	13,618	37.37	N/A
Total votes			36,442	100.0

1982 Illinois House of Representatives election^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	William J. Laurino (incumbent)	26,095	99.99
	Write-in		2	0.01
Total votes			26,097	100.0

1970 – 1962

1970 Illinois House of Representatives election^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Edward E. Bluthardt (incumbent)	57,715	35.80
	Democratic	Raymond J. Welsh, Jr.	55,289	34.29
	Republican	Richard A. Walsh (incumbent)	48,211.5	29.90
	Democratic	Ray Willas	34,937	21.67
	Write-in		7	0.00
Total votes			161,222.5	100.0

1968 Illinois House of Representatives election^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Richard A. Walsh (incumbent)	79,507.5	32.12
	Republican	Edward E. Bluthardt (incumbent)	63,746.5	25.75
	Democratic	James C. Kirie (incumbent)	59,619.5	24.09
	Democratic	Robert F. Martwick [Sr.]	44,642.5	18.04
Total votes			247,516	100.0

1966 Illinois House of Representatives election^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Richard A. Walsh	70,792	33.44
	Republican	Edward E. Bluthardt	60,378.5	28.52
	Democratic	James C. Kirie (incumbent)	46,350	21.89
	Democratic	Raymond J. Welsh, Jr.	34,200	16.15
Total votes			211,720.5	100.0

1962 Illinois House of Representatives election^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Terrel E. Clarke (incumbent)	94,400.5	31.05
	Republican	Don A. Moore	86,773.5	28.54
	Democratic	Frank X. Downey (incumbent)	63,643.5	20.93
	Democratic	Harold W. Mance	59,188.5	19.47
Total votes			304,006	100.0

1960 – 1956

1960 Illinois House of Representatives election^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Terrell E. Clarke [sic] (incumbent)	112,854	29.28
	Republican	Harold A. Hoover (incumbent)	98,703	25.61
	Democratic	Frank X. Downey (incumbent)	94,169.5	24.43
	Democratic	John P. Dohm	79,714	20.68
Total votes			385,440.5	100.0

1958 Illinois House of Representatives election^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Terrel E. Clarke (incumbent)	65,860	28.94
	Democratic	Frank X. Downey (incumbent)	57,888	25.44
	Republican	Harold A. Hoover (incumbent)	57,185.5	25.13
	Democratic	Clara C. Smollen	55,650	24.45
Total votes			227,583.5	100.0

1956 Illinois House of Representatives election^[34]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Terrel E. Clarke	93,427.5	32.15
	Republican	Harold A. Hoover	88,282.5	30.38
	Democratic	Frank X. Downey	58,337	20.07
	Democratic	Galvin Kennedy	50,590.5	17.41
Total votes			290,637.5	100.0

Notes

1. From 1870 to 1970, the GA met for a new session on the Wednesday after the first Monday of January.
2. Since 1970, the GA meets on the second Wednesday of January for a new session.

References

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13. "Manual of the twenty-sixth General Assembly of the State of Illinois". Illinois Digital Archives. Illinois Secretary of State. p. 54. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
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16. "STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: State House District 2 (Illinois)" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. May 18, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
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31. Colton, G. W. (1857). "Illinois. No. 44. Published by J.H. Colton & Co., No 172 William St., New York. Entered according to the Act of Congress in the year 1855 by J.H. Colton & Co. in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York". David Rumsey Map Collection. New York: J. H. Colton. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
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33. "Election Results 2022 GENERAL ELECTION". Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
34. "Downloadable Vote Totals". Illinois State Board of Elections. Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 11, 2021.